The Diocese of Parramatta was delighted to attend the 2024 Australian Catholic Communications Congress and share its expertise in website and digital strategy while gaining valuable insights about modern communication to support a mission-oriented Church.
Ten representatives from the Diocesan Communications and Mission Enhancement teams attended the three-day congress, which was hosted by the Australian Catholic Bishops Conference and held in North Sydney.
The congress welcomed around 160 attendees from dioceses, ministries, agencies and religious congregations across Australia and New Zealand; and featured a series of presentations and workshops on the central theme: ‘Missionary message for a modern world’.
Sr Rose Pacatte, Founding Director of the Pauline Center for Media Studies in Los Angeles, USA, delivers the keynote address during the 2024 Australian Catholic Bishops Conference’s Catholic Communications Congress at North Sydney in August 2024. Image: Ryan Maclandag/ACBC
Archbishop of Adelaide and Bishops’ delegate for the Australian Catholic Media Council, Archbishop Patrick O’Regan, said the theme of the congress highlighted the “important role of communicators in making sure that our message is relevant to the times, and the world, in which we live”.
“The congress enables us to share our experiences, knowledge and skills, as well as provide valuable insights into the latest developments in the world of media and social communications in a Catholic context,” Archbishop O’Regan said.
Archbishop Patrick O’Regan, Archbishop of Adelaide, speaks during the 2024 Australian Catholic Bishops Conference’s Catholic Communications Congress at North Sydney in August 2024. Image: Ryan Maclandag/ACBC
In support of the theme, the Diocese of Parramatta’s Head of Communications and Engagement, Anita Sulentic, led two workshops on ‘Websites that work’ with around 40 participants per workshop.
“A solid digital strategy is essential to all Catholic organisations. It was wonderful to see how many Catholic communicators from across the country wanted to learn more about websites and developing digital strategies as we strive to find new ways to spread the Gospel message and the works of our Church and the People of God,” Anita said.
“Each workshop started with the group discussing what they feel works, and what doesn’t work online. For communicators, it’s important to always be learning from each other and tapping into expertise from the Catholic and secular spaces.”
Diocese of Parramatta Head of Communications and Engagement, Anita Sulentic, delivers a workshop on ‘Websites that work’ during the 2024 Australian Catholic Bishops Conference’s Catholic Communications Congress at North Sydney in August 2024. Image: Ryan Maclandag/ACBC
The congress covered artificial intelligence, media literacy, social media, government relations, fundraising, strategic planning, photography, video, and more
Highlights included a keynote presentation on Catholic communication in the digital landscape by Sr Rose Pacatte, Founding Director of the Pauline Center for Media Studies in Los Angeles, USA; as well as keynote presentations by Bishop Richard Umbers, Auxiliary Bishop of the Archdiocese of Sydney; Tom Finnigan, founder of Talkingbrands.ai and co-founder of the Murfin Group, Adrian Cropley OAM, Founding Director of the Centre for Strategic Communication Excellence, Nichole Chehine, Associate Director of Fundraising and Communications at Caritas; and Fr Sam French, Vocations Director at the Diocese of Broken Bay and a ‘digital missionary’ and ‘disrupter’ on social media.
Tom Finnigan delivers a keynote presentation on the challenges and opportunities of artificial intelligence during the 2024 Australian Catholic Bishops Conference’s Catholic Communications Congress at North Sydney in August 2024. Image: Ryan Maclandag/ACBC
A special Mass at St Mary’s Cathedral in Sydney reflected on the original messenger of the Gospel, St John the Baptist, who courageously and unreservedly told the truth without judgement and regardless of consequence.
“We are part of the greatest comms team of all: the Church,” Archbishop Anthony Fisher OP said in his homily.
“With Christ the Lord … as our editor-in-chief, with the prophets and evangelists as our mentors, and with our pastors and lay faithful as fellow missionaries,” he said.
Following Mass, journalist, lecturer and media freedom advocate Peter Greste addressed participants at the conference dinner. Peter spoke of his own experience of being charged with terrorism offences in Egypt in 2013 and related it the 2024-2025 ACBC Social Justice Statement: “Truth and Peace: A Gospel Word in a Violent World”.
Journalist and lecturer Peter Greste speaks to delegates during the conference dinner of the the 2024 Australian Catholic Bishops Conference’s Catholic Communications Congress at North Sydney in August 2024. Image: Ryan Maclandag/ACBC
The Diocese of Parramatta extends its sincere gratitude to the Australian Catholic Bishops Conference, the Australian Catholic Media Council, as well as all the organisers, presenters, attendees and supporters.
Members of the Diocese of Parramatta Communications Services team and Mission Enhancement Team with Archbishop Patrick O’Regan, Archbishop of Adelaide (centre left) during the 2024 Australian Catholic Bishops Conference’s Catholic Communications Congress in August 2024. Image: Ryan Maclandag/ACBC
